# Summer Program for Under Represented Students (SPURS)

> **NIH NIH R25** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2022 · $54,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This application is to renew funding for the Summer Program for Under-Represented Students
(SPURS). Columbia University's SPURS Program provides an intense undergraduate research
experience on the campus of Columbia's College of Physicians & Surgeons (P&S) for talented
students from backgrounds that are under-represented in biomedical research. Begun with
students from NYC public colleges SPURS now attracts under-represented minority (URM)
students nationwide, including a pool of applicants from traditional minority-majority colleges and
universities as well as other top academic institutions. SPURS provides extensive training in
basic science research, and enhances the likelihood that the students will achieve a career in
science by pursuing an advanced degree (M.D. and/or Ph.D.). To expand opportunities for URM
undergraduate students to participate in high quality, focused and sustained research
experiences in the neurosciences, Dr. Steven Siegelbaum (P.I.), Chair of the Department of
Neuroscience at P&S, and Dr. Andrew Marks, Department Chair of Physiology and Cellular
Biophysics and founder of Columbia University's SPURS program have joined to expand the
SPURS program. Over the last funding period, applications have soared and in the upcoming
period, we propose the expansion of the program to include even more highly qualified minority
student participants. Students selected for SPURS perform hands-on research for nine summer
weeks under the mentorship of NINDS-supported Columbia University neuroscientists. In addition
to specific training in neuroscience, the students have received in-depth training in research
methodology including: (a) the design and analysis of experiments; (b) critical reading of scientific
literature through journal clubs and discussions of ethics in science; (c) the presentation of
scientific results at laboratory meetings; (d) presentation of their research at poster sessions; (e)
an oral presentation of their research to an audience of scientists; and (f) career counseling.
Finally, the research training will be provided in a uniquely enriching setting that includes weekly
meetings with under-represented minority role models in biomedical research. The SPURS
program addresses the critical need to increase the pipeline of highly qualified minority trainees
into neuroscience.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10583050
- **Project number:** 3R25NS076445-10S1
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** ANDREW Robert MARKS
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $54,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10583050

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10583050, Summer Program for Under Represented Students (SPURS) (3R25NS076445-10S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10583050. Licensed CC0.

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